Tate Takahashi v. HHS - Influenza, transverse myelitis (2016)

Tate Takahashi filed a petition on March 4, 2015, alleging that he developed transverse myelitis as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on October 17, 2013, and that he suffered residual effects for more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused the transverse myelitis or any other injury.

On July 18, 2016, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing that compensation should be awarded. The Special Master, Thomas L.

Gowen, found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. The award included a lump sum of $4,584.57 to reimburse a State of Hawaii Medicaid lien, payable jointly to the petitioner and the Department of Human Services, Department of Attorney General, Civil Recoveries Division.

The petitioner agreed to endorse this payment to the State. Additionally, a lump sum of $300,000.00 was awarded to the petitioner for remaining damages.

Judgment was entered in accordance with the stipulation, totaling $304,584.57. The public decision does not describe the petitioner's counsel, respondent's counsel, specific clinical details of the transverse myelitis, or the medical experts involved.